The Capital Karting Grand Prix puts on a show at Karters Korner

This past weekend karters from the Ottawa region traveled to Karters Korner in Stittsville, Ontario to take part in the first annual Capital Karting Grand Prix, the reality of a dream by Enrico Valente. Four Briggs & Stratton classes were on the schedule as well as the Mayor’s Cup of Wishes, a special endurance race to help raise funds and awareness. It was a very successful debut event with CKN’s Neelan Nadesan taking in all the action.

The race served as a great way to showcase karting to the masses as hundreds of people from the Ottawa region attended the race while enjoying the other attractions at the Karters Korner facilty. Enrico Valente and his team at Podium Special Events Management ran a great event and helped bring unity to karting in the nation’s capital. For those in the Ottawa region who want to watch the race from this weekend they will be shown on Rogers TV Ottawa on Thursday with commentary by Zacharie Robichon. At the podium presentations Valente announced that next year’s edition of the race will be held on July 23-24, 2016.

Mayor’s Cup Endurance Event

The Mayors Cup endurance event took place at noon where ten teams competed to raise money for various charities in the Ottawa region. Teams consisting of four drivers took to the track and it was all fun and games for those involved. The winning team was Hot Shot Start Ups which was a group of start up companies from the Ottawa region who came together to compete in the event.

Mayor’s Cup of Wishes winners Hot Shot Start Ups with Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor (Photo by: Neelan Nadesan/CKN)

Briggs & Stratton Novice

The Briggs & Stratton Novice category was swept by Zander Stevens after taking pole in qualifying then winning the Prefinal and Final. Brayden McCooley was close to Stevens all day but didn’t have the extra juice to pass him for the win. Further behind the leaders Denver Craig, who had a poor start to the final falling back to fifth, fought back to third with a great last lap pass on Nick Gikes. Unfortunately for the race winner Stevens he was exclude in post technical inspection handing the win to McCooley.

Briggs & Stratton Junior

Owen Clarke was the driver beat in the Junior final after taking pole in Qualifying and winning the Prefinal ahead of William Chayer. Clarke took the holeshot in the first corner as the drivers behind were jockeying for position on the first lap. Two corners in Chayer and third place runner Henry Knox where forced off the track taking them out of the race. As the race went on Clarke built up a ten-second lead ahead of Ryan Armstrong. But with five laps to go it was a heart breaker for Clarke, as his chain popped off forcing him to retire. Armstrong cruised by the leader taking the win and the $300.00 cash prize ahead of Vincent Lamonthe and Meghan Gikes.

Briggs & Stratton Senior winner Michael Forget (Photo by: Neelan Nadesan/CKN)

Briggs & Stratton Senior

Going into the Briggs & Stratton Senior final Michael Forget, Dave Laplante, Tom Cadieux and Mike Valente were in a league of their own. Forget took the lead on the first lap ahead of Laplante and Valente, while Cadieux’s race was over instantaneously, after he was run over on the start damaging this carburetor. Back up front Laplante passed Forget for the lead on lap two in corner one, but would lose it three laps later when Forget regained the position. Forget held the lead to the checkered flag as Laplante settled for second with Valente taking the third step of the podium. The battle for fourth close with seven drivers dicing for the position. In the end Alex Piche finished fourth position with Mike De La Plante placing fifth after fighting his way up the field from mid-pack.

James Dunn had a flag to flag victory in Briggs & Stratton Masters. (Photo by: Neelan Nadesan/CKN)

Briggs & Stratton Masters

James Dunn had a flag to flag win in the Briggs & Stratton Masters final. He was under pressure in the early stages of the race by Phil Hall and Mike Forget Sr. After the half way distance the Margay driver was able to put a four-kart length gap on second and third which he maintained to the finish. Hall and Forget completed the top three giving the Margay team a podium sweep in the category.

With planning already underway for next years race, those in the Capital region should be excited to see how the Capital Karting Grand Prix will bloom.